Human....

After listening to the same music for AGES I decided to re-jig the iPod! I spent a good while last night going through Chris's CDs and now have a nice mix, aptly called 'fast run mix' ready for the gym!

I tried it out today whilst doing a good 30 min run on the treadmill, and found it very ironic that the last track was 'Human' by the Killers, as I looked anything but - red, hot, sweaty, stinky, and then came the lyrics, "and I'm on my knees"...ha ha, very funny!!

This was followed by a few songs from the Shrek soundtrack, to accompany me doing a circuit of upper body weights, and then, as the pool was empty of kids, I couldn't resist trying out the new swimsuit...on the way to the jacuzzi!!

My foot is definitely feeling better with running rather than walking, but I get this guilty feeling that I'm not working hard enough as it does seem easier....so just for SS, I took the dogs out and did the 3 mile Newbury loop...just to make her happy...as I know she'll check up on me...she's only human.......

Rest Day.....!!

So.....resting my foot this weekend.......

Which meant up at 6am, and meeting SS at the top of the road just before 7am. We had decided to only do one circuit of the common today (as I was resting!!) which meant 8 miles before a cappuccino and chocolate twist.
The common was very wet and boggy underfoot, but the sky looked promising until we reached the furthermost corner from Costas (Thornford Park end), and then the heavens opened......got absolutely soaked...........the only consolation we had was that Chris was out playing golf in this!!

So, as mentioned, back to Costas for a breakfast and drying out stop. At this point, SS decided to go and do another circuit of the common, and I headed home to collect Mali and Golda as they needed a 'quick' walk. I ran home, and as bizarre as it sounds, running actually makes my foot feel better than walking, so I decided that instead of a quick walk, the dogs could have a run with me instead!

We headed along Monks Lane, and Elizabeth Avenue, I actually walked this as both dogs wanted to sniff and use the toilet facilities , but then we dropped down into the corn fields leading behind Enborne (which was a run/slip/slide due to the mud/clay/puddles!!) and then we headed for the canal and jogged along the canal, (Mali cheated by jumping in the canal and swimming along side, obviously thought it was a dualathalon!!) through into town and then up the hill home.

Cold, wet, muddy, tired.....13 miles.....perfect rest day!!

Poorly foot :-(

I went to see my GP on Wednesday with a poorly foot. Since Saturday,  as previously mentioned, my left foot has been playing me up.....time to see the GP.  I was a little concerned I might have a 'march fracture' or 'stress fracture', as I'm a bit of a plodder, but the doctor confirmed that it's just a soft tissue injury, and to rest, and maybe fork out hundreds of pounds for a physio.

So as all good health professionals do, I went running with SS instead!!

To be perfectly honest, I have rested it from walking this week, Chris has taken the dogs out, and I have run once on Wednesday with SS. Running is fine, whether it's because I'm wearing my asics with a bit more support ( for the over-pronation) or whether it's because I find running easier (??!!) my foot doesn't hurt until I stomp again!!

We met at the gym, and did a 30 minute pelt along the treadmill, and then did our normal circuit of weights. This was then followed by lunch, as we had a lot to chat about - we have places for the centurion 100 - woohoo - need to rest my foot then!!!

Ouch!

I'm convinced SS kicked me on Saturday.....by the time I'd got home after our 28 miles, my left foot was beginning to ache...SS said it was probably the cold and wet.....but by Sunday am it was swollen and bruised......so I'm of the opinion she definitely did something to me!!

I borrowed some of Chris's ginger and frankincense joint balm (??!!) which eased it ( or it could have been the brufen and choc biscuits??)and strapped it up with tubigrip, and today it does seem a little easier.....the last thing I really need is an injury. Surprisingly, it hurts more to walk on it than it does to run.....

I decided to give the gym a miss today and head to the swimming pool, I figured the warm water would soothe and support....what I hadn't figured was the fact that it was half term....and the pool was full of undesirables.....namely kids!!!

So.....I ended up in the gym after all! And, as my foot felt better running than walking, I ran for half an hour on the treadmill (listening to Muse) and then did 2 circuits of upper body weights....

So now I'm balanced out, as my top half aches as much as my bottom half - ouch!

Wet, wet, wet.

At 6am this morning it was blowing a gale and pouring with rain.....so I texted SS and suggested we gave our walk a miss and met at the gym instead......her reply was along the lines of 'stop being a wuss and get your butt into gear', so I met her at the top of Newtown Road, at 7am...in the dark, and wet, and wind, and we headed off for circuit no.1 of Greenham Common.

 SS had even managed to talk Cheryl (the physio) into coming with us, so at least I had someone to whinge along with as first my feet got wet, then my legs, and then my gloves decided not to be waterproof! Breakfast stop no.1 couldn't come quick enough, and we trudged into Costas, wearing more of the Common than usual for cappuccinos and cake.

SS's theory was that as we were wet (soaked to the skin) we might as well carry on walking as we couldn't get any wetter (??!!) so after grabbing some vegetable bags to put on my hands underneath my gloves to help with the waterproofing (worked a treat for future reference!!) we set off around the common - again!!
Like last week, we dropped down through the farmyard at Crookham, used the local amenities (the tree trunk toilet stop) and walked along the canal into Newbury....where Cheryl finally cottoned on to the fact that SS definitely lived up to her name and beat a hasty retreat home!
SS had promised me a starbucks, so breakfast no.2 was had there, and because by this time there was definitely no way we could possibly get any wetter, we walked back the way we had come, and got muddier and muddier instead.

Chris rang just as we were nearing home to say that he was heading of to the local rugby match and was I near the college so that he could hand the dogs over, so rather than a quick trip home to a soak in the bath, it was a few extra miles with 2 hyperactive dogs. Mali gave SS a run for her money though, being very naughty and causing us to walk backwards several times, peering under hedges to see where she had got to!!
So much for the soak in the bath too...Mali was so filthy, we ended up in the shower together!
So, cold, wet, starving, but another 28 miles training...job done!!

And I might just add......looking at my brothers blog -
www.challengemenace.blogspot/
he skived today!! tut tut!

Naff headphones.....

Am going to miss the 'Wednesday workout' with Sadistic Sue (SS) this week as I'm taking Cass and the out-laws to Gatwick. They are jetting off on their jolly to India and I am designated chauffeur.

So, thought I'd better get the old butt to the gym whilst I had the chance.
To be honest, the old butt still aches a bit after Saturdays trip out round the common, as does the thighs, the knees, the calfs, the hips.....

Anyhow....I dragged myself onto the treadmill, plugged the headphones in, and POP! The little plugs pinged and stopped working......okay.,...so listening to SS going on is one thing, but running along in silence is something else!! There is just no momentum without a ga-ga beat, or a Mika mix-up or a Muse medley or a Killers cacophony (impressed??), it makes running kinda boring, so I only lasted for 30 mins on the treadmill before I hit the weights circuit, and 15 mins of that before I called it a day.

Once home, the sun was still shining, and as Golda looked like she had a bit of 'spring fever' ie a bit hyperactive, I grabbed both dogs, and did the 3 mile 'Newbury Loop', but in reverse, for way of a change!

It's a beautiful day.....

Up and out at 7am.....met Sadistic Sue on the corner of Newtown Road in the pitch black and we headed off to Greenham common.
There was no set plan for the day..we were just going to see where our feet would take us, and what the weather was like!
After a miserable wet Thursday and Friday we weren't hopeful, but halfway round we did start to see a little bit of blue sky and coats came off, and after eight miles and the first breakfast stop (Costa's for a chocolate twist and cappuccino) the weather was looking pretty good, so we decided to go around the common again!

This time, for way of a change, we dropped down on to the farm track at the top end by Crookham Saw mill, so that we could get on to the Kennet and Avon tow path, which would lead us into Newbury, add a couple more miles on to the route, and most importantly, lead us to Starbucks and the second breakfast/first lunch stop!!

After a falafel panini and earl grey tea (which tasted a lot nicer, and less sissy than it sounds) we decided to repeat the ten miles in reverse as it had been a nice walk along the canal and the common.
The council had obviously been busy since I had last been out that way, a lot of the waterway had been dredged and the canal looked clearer and definitely smelt better.....plus there was a good deal of sunshine and blue sky!
So...back we went.....

And...home by half past two!
No blisters,
Toenails present and correct.
So....28 miles, 7 hours, 30 mins which included a breakfast and lunch stop means we are keeping to our plan of 4 miles an hour - easy peasy!!